| 37 Rabbitte Joinery JOINERY T T Karen Phelps A streamlined, tech-driven business Rabbitte Joinery handles every stage of the journey in-house including design, manufacture and installation. What began as a one-man operation in a small workshop has grown into one of Hawke’s Bay’s most respected and multi award-winning joinery businesses. Founded in 2005 by Greg and Trudi Rabbitte, Rabbitte Joinery started with handson trade skills and a deep commitment to quality craftsmanship. Over time that foundation has evolved into a streamlined, technology-driven business, trusted to deliver kitchens and interiors that blend precision, beauty and functionality. “In the early days, it was just Greg and a vision,” says Trudi. “He’d be in the workshop, building cabinets, while I was helping clients with design. We’ve grown carefully and deliberately, always making sure quality stays at the heart of what we do.” As the company grew Rabbitte Joinery brought in powerful job management software to handle increasing workflow complexity. Today that system plays a central role in the business, managing every part of the process from quoting and procurement to scheduling and capacity planning. This enables the team to deliver on time and with consistency, even as demand has increased. “We realised that to stay in control and deliver exceptional outcomes, we needed to be just as sharp behind the scenes as we are on the tools,” explains Greg. “The software allows us to see exactly where each job is in the pipeline and allocate resources based on real-time capacity. It’s a game changer.” This forward-thinking approach has also led Rabbitte Joinery to adopt lean manufacturing principles. By refining their production systems, reducing waste and continuously improving workflow, efficiency has been maximised without compromising on quality. This not only shortens lead times but also enables the team to focus on craftsmanship and detail, the cornerstones of every Rabbitte project. “Lean manufacturing isn’t just about speed,” says Trudi. “It’s about working smarter, not harder, eliminating inefficiencies so our team can focus on what really matters: the craftsmanship and the client.” With a team of 11 skilled craftspeople and a reputation for delivering from concept to completion, Rabbitte Joinery handles every stage of the journey in-house including design, manufacture and installation. The six-step client process ensures transparency, collaboration and attention to detail at every touchpoint. That commitment to excellence has been consistently recognised by the National “We’re proud that these awards also reflect how well we listen to our clients and deliver on their brief. That’s what success looks like to us.” Proudly supporting Rabbitte Joinery FORMICA / WILSONART • CAESARSTONE • SILESTONE • DEKTON FLORIM • TRENDSTONE • NATURAL GRANITES & MARBLES Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA) with a string of awards over the past decade. Rabbitte Joinery delivers projects across a wide spectrum from lower-cost renovations to bespoke, high-end interiors. While the business primarily caters to the mid- to high-end market, Trudi says that even clients with more modest budgets benefit from the team’s signature design flair, thoughtful layouts and commitment to using quality hardware and materials. This year, with Trudi stepping back from judging the NKBA awards, the company will again showcase its standout work in several award entries. For Trudi it’s the client-focused criteria that matters most. “We’re proud that these awards also reflect how well we listen to our clients and deliver on their brief,” she says. “That’s what success looks like to us.”
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